The Well-Rounded Designer
Author of this post: Bryan Kelly | About Blog Authors »
The great American architect and designer Frank Lloyd Wright, founded a school of architecture in the 1930’s that featured a holistic approach toward design education. The mantra was and still is “Learn by Doing”. Wright believed that an architect couldn’t truly design a structure unless they understood the steps needed to actually build it. That seems to be a reasonably logical assertion. He also felt that a broad understanding of the various allied arts helped create a well-rounded designer—also a logical philosophy. These ideas are appropriate to all design disciplines, whether it be architecture, print, web, product, interior or fashion. Let’s examine one particular area as an example, print design.
As a design student, I was thrilled with every opportunity to tackle a project. I’d let the creativity flow and attempt to create designs that pushed the boundaries. However, something that always kept me grounded were the experiences I had in my dad’s print shop typesetting on an old Macintosh IIsi. The function of what each customer needed always informed what was being designed. It wasn’t glamorous, but I learned that there is a practical side to design that needs to be considered. What can actually be printed, trimmed and bound? What inks can be used and what stocks are available? What is the customer’s budget? There was no way I would have been able to design something that looked visually fantastic, but couldn’t be produced on the shop’s press or meet the real needs of the customer. My dad would have quickly sent me to the Subway next store to be a Sandwich Artist rather than letting me grow as a Graphic Artist.
Being a designer is more than just making something look cool or appealing. Of course, that’s what we all strive for. It’s the reason we’re designers! However, the bottom line is that we all need to pay the bills. By allowing yourself to become a well-rounded designer who understands the challenges of real world projects, you’ll be a valuable asset to your employer or clients. When times are slow in the industry or even when they get lean, you will help ensure your position or continue to be an in-demand freelancer. And for those of you who someday want to own your own studio, you must know how to successfully take a project from concept to completion. So, get out there and learn by doing! Take your hands off the keyboard and mouse and get them dirty. You won’t regret it.
